• You think of your nose as a mucus fistula
  
• You think of maggots and leeches as medical equipment
  
• You think that picking at a scab is a billable activity
  
• You think Kegel exercises should be a team sport
  
• You thought pessaries made nice Christmas ornaments
  
• You have said out loud: "That is a beautiful stoma"
  
• You know how many of your friends have urinary incontinence
  
• You are actually interested in when your mom or dad want to talk about their bowel movements
  
• You have already picked out your stoma site if you have a colostomy
  
• You buy old colostomy irrigation systems to show to your students
  
• You have any where in your house literature on fecal/urinary incontinence, just in case
  
• You have said to a complete stranger: "I am here to look at your butt"
  
• You know more than 10 words to describe pus

CELEBRATING PCR AFFILIATES/NURSES
ENLOE HOSPITAL LINDA THOMAS EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION...

Chico, CA—For compassion, skill, professional dedication & knowledge, Enloe RN Linda Reynolds was named the National WOCN ET Nurse of the year for 2007. Nurses were nominated from 244 affiliate support groups of UOA of America. Congratulations Linda for a job well done!
PALM SPRINGS SANDRA HIGELIN EDUCATING S. CA NURSES...

Sandra is currently working on a "Skin Deep, Bad to the Bone" project which she has started presenting to Redlands Community Hospital. "I have this passion to educate as many nurses as I can on pressure ulcer prevention & management. I want to give them real knowledge that they will internalize & include in their daily practice. I truly believe that all of these dictates from Medicare & JACHO are not the answer. Patient outcomes will only improve through nurses taking an interest, learning, & acting. My project at Redlands Hospital consists of three 8 hr. educational sessions giving nurses 3 different opportunities to attend the class. I am also providing a 2 day workshop which participants will get a certificate of attendance providing 14 CE's upon completion. I can take these presentations and condense them into shorter sessions if needed. I am also rounding on the units providing education at the bedside. The nurses love it and exhibit a real desire to learn. I plan to work on an in-service specifically dealing with bariatric patients. I think that they present with many different challenges and need to be dealt with in a unique manner. I have acquired my own BRN number & will provide CE opportunities to anyone interested." Sandra is currently a member of the National Profession Practice Education Committee.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS TO PCR...

Please help me to welcome new members to the PCR. New attendee's to our 2007 National meeting in Salt Lake City are:br>Barbara Victor, Las Vegas, NV; Nancy Wood, S.F., CA; Meredith Moore, Las Vegas, NV; Margaret Backaler, S.F., CA; Nadine Nakano, Manteca, CA; Dena Dimond, Petaluma, CA; In Ja Lee, Anaheim Hills, CA; Leddy Hoffman, Shadow Hills, CA; Marsha Kramar-Glantz, S.F., CA; Sheryl Tatum-Tedford, Antelope, CA; Rawnie Clements, Newark, CA; Barbara Evanish, San Luis Obispo, CA; Paula Cooper, Nellis AFB, NV; Kathi Ruel, San Leandro, CA; Melanie Conley, Santa Rosa, CA; Merribeth Dodge, San Joes, CA; Elly Hann, LaJolla, CA; Meyer Greenbaum, Santa Fe Springs, CA; Alison Hennes, Corona, CA; Armida Lucas, Alameda, CA; Lisa Heitkemper, Marysville, CA; Valerie Maloney, Santa Barbara, CA; Mike Griffiths, Carlsbad, CA; Jenni Ross, Morro Bay, CA; Marilyn Foster, Sebastopol, CA; Mary Strautman-Sepulveda, Pasadena, CA; Marilyn Foscante, Apple Valley, CA; Melinda Miller, Reno, NV; Laura Cobleigh, Crescent City, CA; Pamela Lutter, Rancho Cucamonga, CA; Wendy Sue Taylor, Ukiah, CA; Alijandra Cruz-Tokar, Monterey, CA; Keith Piccolo, Huntington Beach, CA; Susan Elizabeth Foster, San Ramon, CA; Cecilia Gray, Redondo Beach, CA; Deborah Joy Zaricor, L.A., CA; Robinetta Wheeler, Fremont, CA; Daren Davis, Sunnyvale, CA; Daren Rekos, San Diego, CA

New Members at our Spring 2008 Conference in Carmel, CA are...Mary Nareeyan, Eun Park, Karrie Rennick, Igna Scklegel, Alyand Tonar, Vanessa Watkins, Pat Brook, Terry Ditton, Merribeth Dodge & Andrea Durnko.
On behalf of the PCR/WOCN BOD I'd like to welcome each and everyone of you. We look forward to working with you and the enthusiasm you will bring our group. Please feel free to contact anyone on the BOD for additional information on how you can become more involved with this wonderful group.

SPRING CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS IN CARMEL, CA

The Spring Conference March 27 & 28th was held in Carmel by the Sea in California at the beautiful La Playa Hotel and was attended by 56 members.  The original location in Palm Springs had to be changed because of Spring Break. The weather was beautiful and the setting had gorgeous views of the ocean from just about anywhere on the campus. There were nationally recognized speakers and some of our own members with topics that ranged from the new CMS changes, Maggot Therapy, Lymphedema, Periwound Care, Support Surfaces, and Nail Care. Steve Norton sponsored by Smith and Nephew spoke about Lymphedema awareness and gave the group information on staging, classification, and treatment of the disease. Ronald Sherman from the University of California, Irvine gave an interesting lecture on Maggot Debridement Therapy. Shelly Burdette-Taylor presented Foot and Nail Care: Prevention of Problems & Promotion of Comfort. Sleeping with the Enemy: Support Surface Management Demystified was presented by Cynthia Flack. She provided the attendees with support surface selection criteria and clarified the new terms recently announced by the NPAUP. Lee Ann Kraftl sponsored by Huntleigh Healthcare reviewed the Government Policies Impacting the WOC Nurse's Practice. Doctor Spahn sponsored by EHOB came back to Carmel and emphasized the importance of a Seamless Continuum of Care Relating to Pressure Ulcers "Protocols are the Glue". Tracy C. Vlahovic, DPM Assistant Professor, Temple University of Podiatry, Dept. of Medicine sponsored by Moliycke presented methods of treating and protecting the Periwound skin. Ostomy Challenges with the Bariatric Patients was presented by Susan Galllagher sponsored by RecoverCare. The feedback about the speakers and the content was very positive. There were eight first time attendees and a student nurse in the audience.  It is great to see the familiar faces, but the new attendees and student nurses are our future and they were warmly welcomed. Make plans to attend the Fall conference in Sacramento, Ca. at the Embassy Suites Oct. 3-5th.

By Liz Harvey & Lynne Whitney-Caglia

• INFORMAL
  • Unplanned interactions between experienced and less-experienced
    • Sharing work, clinical experience
• FORMAL
  • Structured relationship with goals & a contract
    • Being a preceptor for a new wocn
• ENHANCED INFORMAL
  • Focused relationships without the formal contract
    • Showing the ropes in the clinic, home health or new leadership role at PCR

CONTACT: JUDY HARWOOD @ judyh03@sbcglobal.net OR www.pcr.org/mentor.html